Though his term as Nebraska's US Senator does not end until 2012, there is speculation that Democrat Ben Nelson may be in trouble in his home state. As Nebraska's Journal Star reports: "As a fresh poll measured the political cost of Sen. Ben Nelson's
health reform vote, he prepared Tuesday to take his case directly
to Nebraskans during Wednesday night's Holiday Bowl game. Nelson will air a new TV ad in which he attempts to debunk
opposition claims that the Senate legislation represents a
government takeover, and he makes the case for health care
reform . . . The political damage Nelson may have incurred in providing the
critical 60th vote that cleared the way for Senate passage of the
health care reform bill showed up Tuesday in a poll released by
Rasmussen Reports. The telephone survey of 500 Nebraskans, conducted Monday,
suggested Republican Gov. Dave Heineman would defeat Nelson in a
potential 2012 Senate race by a 61-30 margin. The poll showed Nelson with a 55 percent unfavorable rating and
64 percent disapproval for Democratic health care reform
legislation."

In the next seven days, no less than eight large American cities will pick mayors. As Governing. com writes: "Big city mayors often are rising political stars, generally command powerful
political machines and invariably make important policy decisions. The national
media ignores them almost entirely. So, it comes as no surprise that no one has noticed that we're about to enjoy
a splendid week of mayoral elections. Voters in eight of the nation's sixty-five
most populous cities will elect new mayors over the next week." For an excellent rundown by Josh Goodman, click here.